finish line

So, 'tis done. I have finally finished the two compositions that I was commissioned to write. Well, technically I was commissioned to write just one, but my busy crazy dad took on two ("just give me what's left") and since I purposely try hard not to be crazy busy, I volunteered to take one of his. In case you have no idea what I am talking about, both my dad and I were among seven Idaho composers commissioned to write a composition for public school students in Idaho. Our pieces will be posted on a website for Idaho music teachers to download for free for three years. It is part of a copyright settlement--all 50 states got money and this is what Idaho decided to do with theirs.

The first one is called "Journey: Travels of Lewis and Clark" for 2-part elementary choir and piano OR 2-part choir, Orff instruments, and piano.  I wrote two versions of the accompaniment in case teachers didn't/couldn't have kids or time to learn the Orff glockenspiels (little metal instruments) and xylophones. The other is "Idaho Wanderings" for middle school string orchestra. I based the theme on the letters I-D-A-H-O, using a system assigning a note name to each letter of the alphabet. 

I am fairly pleased with how they turned out--more so with "Journey" since "Wanderings" was a race to the finish line (I submitted them last night at 11:30 p.m.--and yes, it was due at midnight). BUT, they are done, I can finally move on with life, and start packing for my move to Corvallis on Saturday. Yea, packing. I LOVE moving. It's my favorite. NO, I'm not being sarcastic, no way. (o;